Switch



June Z, 1933.. A. R. LEWELLEN 1,915,630

SWITCH Filed June 12, 1930 dbbmmq Patented June 27, 1933 UNITED STATESPAT ENT OFFICE ALBERT R. LEWELLEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TODELCO-REMY CORIPO- RATION, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE SWITCH Application filed June 12, 1930. Serial No'. 460,639.

This invention relates to circuit closers adaptable for signal circuits,and has for one of its objects to provide a switch and operatingstructure that will respond quickly to 55, movement of a controllermechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide and support a switchstructure for eificient operation in response to a control mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a circuit controllerthat will be read.- ily responsive, and certain of operation, uponslight movement of thecontrol mechanism.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following-description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of thepresentinvention is clearly shown.

' In'the drawing:

liig. 1 illustrates a switch device of the character described herein,and its application to the control mechanism and signal circuit of anautomotive vehicle. a a Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the structureipbstantially as-indicated by the arrow 2 of Fig. 3 is a view similar toFig. 1, except with the control mechanism moved to a dif= 30 ferentposition, so as to permit the illustration of the circuit closer in acircuit closed position. i

Fig. 4is a transverse sectional view of the circuit controller and partof the operating 1:35 mechanism, substantially as indicated by the lineand arrows 4-4 of Fig. 1.

With-particular reference to the drawing,

indicates a pedal member of the brake control mechanism, j ournalled bymeans of a v 4 shaft 21 to the frame of van automotive vehicle, andproviding an offset arm 22 to which is secured a brake rod 23 by a yokemember 24 through the agency of a pin 25. It is understood of course,that the rod 23 may be cou- 4 pled to any conventional or desired formof brake operating mechanism, or such other control means as .may bedesired,.and that manipulation of thepedal 20 will operate toreciprocate the rod23 as is well known to ,50 thoseskilled in the art. Apedal stop26 is also carried by the shaft 21 and is capable ofadjustment thereabout by reason of a bolt or other device 27 throughelongated arc-like aperture '28 provided in one arm 29 of the pedal stopmember. The pedal stop provides a table portion 30, one end of whichterminates in a depending abutment or lug 3] adapted to engage a face 32of the pedal 20, and it'is thus seen that adjustment of the member 26about the shaft 21 through the agency of the stud 27 will vary theangular position of the rest 31 withrespect to the shaft 21.

On the table of thepedal stop there is secured a switch bracket 35 bymeans of spot welding or the like, and is of the general form exhibitedin the drawing. It is here illustrated as of U-form providing theparallelly extending legs 36 and -37, within which is journalled aswitch support 38'by means of a journal pin 39. The switch support 38 isof inverted U-formation forming the legs 40 and 41 receiving the journalpin 39 and formed to engage between the legs 36 and 37 of the bracket.The legs of the support are joined by a bridge 42 providing a platformto which is secured a nonconducting block 43, and to the block 43 issecured at each end a spring retaining clip 44 by a terminal stud 45.

of a conductive fluid circuit closer ,46 by means of the metallic caps47 The circuit closer46, in the form illustrated, is of the mercury'typeand provides contact terminals 48 and 49, each of which is in electricalcommunication with one of the caps 47 and electrical communicationbetween the contact terminals ismade through the agency of a globuleofmercury 50 optionally movable to bridge the gap between the ends ofthe conductors48 and 49. Nuts 51 and 52 or other equivalent devicesoperate to maintain the clips 44 in firm engagement with the terminalstuds 45 and provide for making electrical connection therewith. V

.Means are provided for oscillating the support 88 and its attendantcircuit closer mechanism by securing to the leg 41 of the support asector gear ,60, which'when actuated will oscillate the switch deviceabout the pivot pin 39. The leg 37 of the bracket is elongated asillustrated, and to the free end 61 is pivoted a switch lever 62 by apivot member 63 that also has driving engagement with a sector gear 64as illustrated. The sector gear 6 l is in interengaging or drivingrelation with the sector gear 60, and operates to drive the same uponoscillation of the switch lever 62. here illustrated the switch lever 62is substantially U-shaped in formation so as to provide the bight 65joining the free end 66.

In the operative position as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, thecircuit closer is so mounted and supported by the pedal .stop as toposition the loop 65 of the switch lever in. embracing relation withrespect to the brake'rod 23. That is, so that the brake rod will liewithin and be capable of movement.

through the bight 65 of the said lever. A clamp collar is secured aboutthe rod 23 in a position so as to engage the lever 62 and oscillate theparts to the circuit open position when the brake pedal 20 is at restagainst the stop 31. Thus, means are provided for-actuating' the switchdevice through reciprocation of the rod 23. p

It is desirable to provide an operable connection between the controlmechanism and the switch lever such that the control mechanism will befreely movable to the full extent that may be desired withoutobstruction from its mechanical connection with the switch, and yet tohave the switch fullyoperable and immediately responsive to initialmovement of the control mechanism. To accomplish this, a spring .71 isdisposed about the pivot pin 39 and has angular extensions 7 2-and 7 3thatengages the bridge portion of the-bracket 35 and the bridge of thesupport I 42, respectively, so as to urge the circuit closerin acounterclockwise direction of rotation as viewed wlth respect to Figs. 1and .3, or to the circuit closed position. This biasing of the spring 71rotates the switch mechanism to the position illustrated in Fig. 3 inwhich the dielectric member 43 comes into engagement with a switch stoplug 74 also provided by the bridge piece30 of the pedal stop member 26.

The switch mechanism thus constructed 7 may be inserted in a signal orother circuit substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1, where the terminalmembers 45 are provided with leads and 81 connecting with a battery 82'and indicating instrument or other work device 83 respectively; Thebattery may be grounded at 8 1 by a lead 85 which completes an electriccircuitwith the device 83, by a lead 86 grounded at 87. This completesan electrical circuit from the ground 84 to the ground 87 by way of theconnections just described except for the gap between the terminals l8and 49 of the circuit closer which lation of the control pedal 20, it ismoved away fromthe rest 31 and with it carries the clamp collar 70,which in moving toward the position illustrated in Fig. 3 allows theswitch lever '62 to follow up and with it the parts of the switchmechanism to the extent illustrated. Inso doing the spring 71 urges theswitch device into a counterclockwise rotation asappears in Fig. 3,until the member 43 abuts against the stop 7 4. It requires but littlemovement of the pedal 20 to accomplish the extreme movement of thecircuit closer, and yet after the circuit closer has been so moved, thepedal is free to move to any position beyond the circuit closingposition to which the control mechanism maybe adjusted. A structure istherefore provided that actuates acircuit closer mechanism in responseto slight movement of a control mechanism, and a quick make-and-breakof, circuits across thereby assured.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understoodthatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is as follows: g

1. A switch actuator mechanism comprising in combination, a pedal stop,a switch bracket carried by the pedal stop and providing alignedbearings, a switch support j ournalled for operation in the bearings,means carried by the bracketfland operable upon the switch support, saidpedal stop providing fixed. abutments for the movement of the controlpedal, and for the movement of the switch device, and means carried bythe pedal mechanism in actuatable relationwith the switch operatingmeans.

2. An oscillatable switch comprising in combination, a pedal stopsecured about the axis of the pedal shaft and providing a pair of stoplugs, a switch devicecarried by the pedal stop and supported incooperable relation with a control rod of the pedal mechanism, meanscarried by the control rod operable to move the switch mechanism intoengagement with one of said stop lugs, said pedal mechanism normallybeing in engage ment with the other of said stop lugs.

.3. A signal circuit switch comprising in combination, a supportingtable having. a stop depending therefrom; a bracket carried theconducting elements is by said table; a circuit closing deviceoscillatably mounted on said bracket and adapted to engage said stoplimiting the oscillation of said device in one direction on one side ofa pivotal point; a control rod; means carried by said control rodcooperable with said switch device for normally maintaining said switchdevice in circuit open position; and

means engaging said switch device and said bracket for urging saidswitch device past said pivotal point into engagement with said stop toclose a circuit when said control rod releases said switch device fromsaid normal position.

4. A switch actuator mechanism comprising in combination; a pedal; apair of stop lugs; a control rod connected to said pedal; a switchdevice oscillatably supported and in cooperable relation with said rod;means 2 carried by said switch device operable to move the switch deviceinto engagement with one of said stop lugs upon movement of said pedal,said pedal normally being in engagement with the other of said stoplugs.

5 5. A switch actuator mechanism comprisa switch device; meansjournalling said switch device and supporting same in cooperablerelation with a rod connected with said pedal; means carried by said rodoperable to hold said switch device in circuit open position when saidpedal is normally in engagement with one of said stops; and meansresponsive to the movement of said pedal to urge said switch device intoengagement with the'other of said stops to close a circuit.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

ALBERT R. LEWELLEN.

